Bridging gaps: Inter-professional collaborative practice for universal health coverage and oral health equity – A roadmap

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) has the potential of improving quality of dental care by integrating dental, medical and social care professionals to deliver high quality comprehensive and patient centered care. The aim of the study was to review current examples of good practice in IPC in selected countries globally followed by exploring the facilitators and barriers in achieving IPC. Barriers included fragmented health care and working in silos, governance and health system challenges, education, professional resistance and lack of integration and data sharing. A roadmap was developed which included the following domains: Governance and legislation, funding and incentives, education, health system public and community engagement, digital data and integration and multidisciplinary research. The findings will inform future development in policy, practice and research in supporting IPC and oral health for the benefit of populations and communities.